During an interview with ABC News, President Trump insisted that a deported individual's tattoos indicated gang affiliation, despite evidence that the photo had been altered to add the 'MS-13' letters. The administration has faced scrutiny for its handling of the deportee's case and has focused on shaping public opinion rather than complying with court orders. Mr. Trump's advisers have claimed court rulings support the gang affiliation, but the evidence is questionable and contested by legal findings. The administration's strategy includes using altered images and public displays to label migrants as criminals, despite doubts about the reliability of such evidence. Experts have criticized the reliance on tattoos as indicators of gang membership, challenging the administration's narrative.

President Trump, during an ABC News interview, insisted that Kilmar Abrego Garcia had 'MS-13' tattooed on his knuckles, based on a digitally altered photograph he posted on social media.

The Trump administration has been criticized for its approach to the case, emphasizing public relations tactics over legal compliance with a Supreme Court order regarding Mr. Abrego Garcia's release.

Claims by the administration that Mr. Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 member are based on dubious evidence, as he has not been formally charged or convicted of such membership, with previous court cases finding the evidence against him weak.

An immigration judge previously ruled that Mr. Abrego Garcia should not be deported to El Salvador due to potential gang-related persecution, allowing him to remain in the U.S. with a work permit.

The White House has employed a campaign involving visual displays and altered images to reinforce the narrative of migrants as criminals, despite expert opinions questioning the validity of tattoos as definitive evidence of gang ties.

Law enforcement experts have raised concerns about the reliability of tattoos as a method for identifying gang members, challenging the administration's assertions used in deportation cases.

The administration's focus on public opinion and dramatic displays over substantiated legal procedures has drawn criticism amid ongoing scrutiny of its immigration policies.